Thank you to AR for bringing this wonderful concept to my attention. I cannot remember which member invited us all to participate but I'm sure someone will share (please). This movement appealed to me immediately and I want to share my 29 day journey with you. BUT FIRST OF ALL - PLEASE JOIN US - SEE AT BOTTOM OF PAGE
I woke up this morning excited about what would be Day 1 of giving a gift . . . my mind was whirling with possibilities. I then read a message from Veronica Deschambault about her experience that stopped me in my tracks - she shared:
"In the beginning I think I was a bit too regimented in my giving: thinking, planning, doing with my head more than my heart. I consciously shifted my approach about a third of the way through and tried to let my giving be more organic in its origins. This kept it from becoming another task to accomplish and moved it closer to being an instrument of change."
You see, I was actually going to schedule in my act of giving into my scheduler!!! Veronica's message made me rethink the whole concept. I have always been drawn to random acts of kindness, seeing an opportunity and acting on it. [I love tapping my brake lights to the car behind me in the drive-thru after paying for their order in the morning. I watch their faces in the rearview mirror and to a person, they almost always show displeasure of some sort, right down to anger and hand motions :0( I love to think about how they feel when they reach the window to discover the real reason I had tapped my brake lights! ]
But I digress . . .
I have decided to clear out some closets in our home. But not the summer stuff I was originally planning to part with. I thought of the number of families who are going to be faced with the frigid temperatures VERY soon here in Canada.
As I bring down my winter wardrobe from the attic (and that of my husband's) I will be gifting our local drop off centres with warm clean clothing that can be put to immediate use. Do I need a dozen or more pairs of gloves and mitts? Do I need all those matching warm scarves? Just how many sweaters and turtlenecks do we need to store on our shelves? I am cutting a swath through these clothes like never before! Boots, shoes, jeans, as well as duvets and cozy blankets. Winter business wear: suits, skirts, dresses . . . the list goes on. Now for anyone who knows me, this is a very drastic measure. I am a PACK RAT of the highest order! I have boxes of 'stuff' from homes I moved from 25 year ago. They get re-boxed with every move. They've travelled across the Atlantic Oocean and back. I'm serious about my stuff!!!! I know you're supposed to part with it if you've not used it in 1 year, 3 years, 5 years . . . I know all that. I've TAUGHT that in different seminars but never have I been able to follow my own advice when it comes to my stuff!
However today, I might actually be turning at the fork in the road. I might be on to something because I am really excited about this. I am picturing warm, happy faces in my previously-enjoyed clothing!!! I am tickled to think my practically new clothes will bring more pleasure to someone else than they did with me on the day of purchase. I'm one of those people who loves the newness of something but only for the first day that it is new. After that, it isn't something special any longer. (my husband and dogs are excluded from that feeling !!)
I'm really quite excited about these next 29 days and I'm finding myself jumping ahead and thinking about what I can do and when . . . I then have to reel myself back in and continue to operate on the moment and with sponteniety.
If you wish to join us (and I'm sure there are many Active Rainers doing this) please sign on at: 29 Days
or contact me for more info. I have a Canadians Care blog on the site too for my fellow Canadians.
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